Quick G99 Question

[Stephen Jenkins]

They’ll get an approval to connect letter which enables them to install. This will set out what limitations, if any, are applicable to the install such ad inverter size, export limits etc

[Thomas Murphy]

Er … you want to see what SSEN has agreed to in advance of install. If say, you’ve only been approved for 5kW, you want to know before you install 10kW PV.

[Thomas Collins]

Why hide a G99 letter from the customer? Don’t get companies like this, just forward it on it takes two seconds and will show you everything and takes just as long as they took to reply to you. Dunno, seems sus to me. We send any correspondence to the customer regardless what we get and just keeps in loop. Ring SSEN direct to check, you’ll get the info straight from the horses mouth

[Victoria Ringswell]

We send copies of all correspondence to the customer from the grid. There will be a “approved to connect” or a sign to agree to the limitations letter before install. The latter has to be signed by both the customer and grid before install happens. After install the commissioning docs go over to grid and the “acceptance” comes back. I don’t see why they aren’t sharing the information with you.

[Warren Bailey]

Not true. Nearly always what happens with SSEN is you submit a G99 and you get an automated knock back within the initial 10 days offering to either :

A) allow the install of applied inverter size to go ahead if you restrict the export to 16amps / 3.68kW

B) Progress to a full G99 where they would like earth resistance tests of the property with photographic evidence.

G99 without network studies will be approved if earth resistance is under 18 ohms.

If over 18 ohms (which 99% are) then you have to progress to a full network study and a further 35 day wait for the outcome.

I would advise you strongly insist they explain to you and show evidence what has been approved, otherwise almost certainly they will have accepted route A, do the install, commission under the export restriction and tell you “oh dear they have only approved 3.68kW export, when they know this was the case before export.

Basically they are in a hurry to install and get your money and don’t want to wait the full 45 working days (3 months) for a full G99 approval decision.

Then they will probably make a 2nd full G99 application after install and capped at 16 amps to see it they can get the export raised. With no guarantee this will be ever approved.

But they have your money in full now.

Been through this many times with clients in SSEN areas and we are always fully open book with them during the process and give them the timescales options so they can make a choice what path they take with their application.

Use this information how you wish, but I would be asking for sure has the full export limitation been approved if not what restrictions do SSEN want.

If they say they don’t know until after install when they apply that is an outright lie and not how the G99 process works with any DNO.

We often go 4-6 months between initial quote, agreed sale and DNO approval before we install as we only do tight by customer outcome, not pressure to force through turnover.

[William Taylor]

ask them for a copy of the SSEN approval. It’s critical that you get to see this as there may be limits specified but can inhibit your system

This post explains others experience with installers not providing all the information

[Yolanda Conolly]

All seems very fishy to me, my installer did G99 had permission back before the install so there was no nasty surprises.

[Zac Kendall]

Yes you get the ok from DNO to install and then they have to accept/approve the commissioning test results for you to get full approval.

[Wayne Harris]

SPEN (my DNO) gave me approval notice citing one month to accept then 12 months to implement.

[Sally Jones]

Thanks very much everyone. They’ve assured me that there are no issues and we can go ahead with the full install but I’ll ask to see the letter.